Word 2008 for Mac crashes when you try to start the program

Symptoms

When you try to start Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac, it crashes. Other Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac programs start as expected.

This problem occurs if other versions of Microsoft Office for Mac were previously installed on this computer.

Cause

This problem occurs when Word 2008 for Mac first starts. At this point, it will try to import the previous settings from earlier versions of Microsoft Word for Mac. If the earlier version of Word for Mac was Microsoft Word X for Mac, Microsoft Word 2001 for Mac, or Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition, and if you added a custom toolbar to the earlier version of Word for Mac, Word 2008 for Mac will crash when it tries to import these settings.

Resolution

To resolve this problem, follow the steps for each version of Word for Mac that was installed on the computer.

Word X for Mac

On the desktop, click Go, and then click Home.

Open the Library folder, and then open the Preferences folder.

Open the Microsoft folder.

Locate and then select the Word Settings (10) folder.

Use one of the following methods:

Rename the folder

On the File menu, click Get Info.

Under Name & Extension, type a new name for the folder.

Close the Get Info window.

Delete the folder

Drag the Word Settings (10) folder to Trash.

On the Finder menu, click Empty Trash.

Try to start Word 2008 for Mac again.

Word 2001 for Mac

On the desktop, click Go, and then click Computer.

Open the hard disk drive where MacOS9 is installed.

Open System Folder. This is the folder that contains MacOS9.

Open the Preferences folder.

Open the Microsoft folder.

Locate and then select the Word Settings (9) folder.

Use one of the following methods:

Rename the folder

On the File menu, click Get Info.

Under Name & Extension, type a new name for the folder.

Close the Get Info window.

Delete the folder

Drag the Word Settings (9) folder to Trash.

On the Finder menu, click Empty Trash.

Try to start Word 2008 for Mac again.

Word 98 Macintosh Edition

On the desktop, click Go, and then click Computer.

Open the hard disk drive where MacOS9 is installed.

Open System Folder. This is the folder that contains MacOS9.

Open the Preferences folder.

Locate and then select the Word Settings (8) folder.

Use one of the following methods:

Rename the folder

On the File menu, click Get Info.

Under Name & Extension, type a new name for the folder.

Close the Get Info window.

Delete the folder

Drag the Word Settings (8) folder to Trash.

On the Finder menu, click Empty Trash.

Try to start Word 2008 for Mac again.

Workaround

To work around this problem, hold down the SHIFT key when you start Word 2008 for Mac. Word 2008 for Mac will start and will not load any Word for Mac preferences. This includes the Word 2008 for Mac settings. Any changes to the settings will not be saved.